It always seems too hot and inconvenient to hang out at the balcony in our year-round tropical climate. And even when it cools down in the evening—making the area perfect for sunset cocktails—our balconies are rarely set up for the moment. They might have a laundry rack waiting to be unloaded, or random plants that needed repotting months ago. Why not make it lounge-ready with these easy fixes, for alfresco downtime or meals? Here’s what you’ll need:

Add a foldable table-and-chair-set, just like what the Europeans do; but none of those clunky plastic pieces, please. A foldable set is easy to stash away when you need to clean the balcony, and easy to set up when you want to hang out. (You can find metal, wrought iron, or wooden outdoor table-and-chair sets at True Value.)

Hurricane lamps allow you to have candles—another source of romantic, ambient lighting—and be safe. They also exude a resort appeal: modern, as in this photo, they give a the space a luxurious, contemporary or American-balcony look; rustic, and they'll exude a tropical resort vibe. (Find similar hurricane lamps locally at Crate & Barrel.)

A different flooring finish changes the feel of a space, and when you have outdoor flooring even for the narrow strip that your balcony is, you change how you relate to the space (i.e., you think of it as “outdoors”).

Think about the cosmopolitan-city things you can do: getting a staycation tan in the confines of your private ‘roof deck’, losing yourself in a good book as you laze around with a pitcher of iced mint tea, or snuggling with your pet in your hammock or swing chair. (Get similar pieces locally at Casa Bella.)